For those who savor historical irony, the Soviet Empire collapsed in the years 1989-1991 because of an implosion of its economy brought on by a ruinous arms race with the United States and the heavy costs of occupying Afghanistan. Seventeen years later came the turn of the world’s other great imperial power, the United States. Lethally bloated by runaway debt, and burdened by 50% of the world’s military spending, the house of cards known as the US economy finally collapsed. AlterNet: The Surge That Failed -Obama Talks Tough About Afghanistan; Here's What He's Really in For: Afghanistan is filled with poor, jobless people who have seen their families blown up by Americans. And they're itching to get revenge.